Mont-Albert, Quebec

Mont-Albert
Unorganized territory

Mount Albert

Location within La Haute-Gaspésie RCM.
Mont-Albert

Location in eastern Quebec.

Coordinates: 48°55′N 66°11′W / 48.917°N 66.183°WCoordinates: 48°55′N 66°11′W / 48.917°N 66.183°W[1]
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCM La Haute-Gaspésie
Constituted January 1, 1986
Government[2]
  Federal riding Haute-Gaspésie—La
Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
  Prov. riding Gaspé
Area[2][3]
  Total 3,457.10 km2 (1,334.79 sq mi)
  Land 3,470.44 km2 (1,339.94 sq mi)
  There is an apparent
contradiction between two
authoritative sources
Population (2011)[3]
  Total 204
  Density 0.1/km2 (0.3/sq mi)
  Pop 2006-2011 Decrease 6.4%
  Dwellings 87
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code(s) G0E 2G0
Area code(s) 418 and 581
Highways Route 198
Route 299
Summit of Mont Jacques-Cartier

Mont-Albert is an unorganized territory in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of Quebec, Canada.

The only population centre within the territory is Cap-Seize, located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts along Quebec Route 299. It was established circa 1940 as a forestry centre and named after the nearby Cap-Seize Creek, a tributary of the Sainte-Anne River. While the name literally means "Cape Sixteen", it is actually a transformation of the English word "capsize", the creek's original name. A post office operated there from 1946 to 1969.[4]

The ghost town of Saint-Octave-de-l'Avenir is about 18 kilometres (11 mi) south-southeast of Cap-Chat, at an altitude of 380 metres (1,250 ft). It was formed in 1932 as part of the Vautrin Settlement Plan to encourage colonization of Gaspésie's interior and intended to bring relief during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The settlement was named after founding priest Louis-Octave Caron (1879–1942) and a hopeful outlook of the future (avenir is French for "future"). It grew to 1200 residents in 1937, but then declined until it was abandoned in 1971. Only summer camps remain.[5]

The territory is home to the Chic-Choc Wildlife Reserve and Gaspésie National Park where the eponymous Mount Albert and Mont Jacques-Cartier are located. Mount Albert, with a 1,151 metres (3,776 ft) high peak, is the 9th highest peak in Quebec. It was named in honour of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha because geologist Alexander Murray made the first recorded ascent of the mountain on the Prince's birthday, 26 August 1845. Mount Jacques-Cartier, with an altitude of 1,270 metres (4,170 ft), is Quebec's second highest mountain.[6][7]

Both mountains are popular with hikers (the International Appalachian Trail traverses them both) and share a unique ecology for its latitude: snow cover for 9 months of the year and alpine tundra vegetation. Furthermore the territory is also home to migratory woodland caribou, the only remaining herd south of the Saint Lawrence.[6][8]

Demographics

Historical Census Data - Mont-Albert, Quebec[11]
YearPop.±%
1991 227    
1996 207−8.8%
YearPop.±%
2001 222+7.2%
2006 218−1.8%
YearPop.±%
2011 204−6.4%

See also

References

  1. Reference number 149673 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (French)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Mont-Albert". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Mont-Albert census profile". 2011 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  4. "Cap-Seize" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  5. "Saint-Octave-de-l'Avenir" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Mont Albert" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  7. "Mont Jacques Cartier". Peakery. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  8. "Parc National de la Gaspesie". Sepaq. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
  9. "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  10. "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  11. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census